From the cenotes in Mexico to the reefs of Raja Ampat, divers hold a passport to explore some of the most wild, pristine, and beautiful places on Earth. As the quintessential underwater eyes of the ocean, divers have also borne witness to the massive changes to this beloved underwater wilderness. Over the past several decades, ocean health has significantly deteriorated due to climate change, with rising sea temperatures leading to widespread coral bleaching and the decline of marine biodiversity. But there is hope in the growing community of underwater explorers who can apply their skills learned as divers to protecting the marine ecosystems vital to supporting life on this planet.  The collective efforts of PADI’s community of 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, 126,000 PADI Professional Members worldwide, and more than 29 million divers can have a monumental impact on creating ocean change.  

Several years ago now, I wrote about an unacceptable incident in which divers were videoed riding a whale shark. The video went viral, sparking thousands of other angry diver comments besides mine. Obviously, most divers (maybe 99%+) know that such outrageous behavior is not only deplorable, but casts divers in a bad light – as Ocean Torchbearers, what we say and do must role model our attitudes as the seas’ ambassadors.

With an estimated 14 million tons of plastics entering the ocean every year, the necessity of closing the tap on plastic has never been greater. The Global Plastics Treaty currently in development represents a unique and crucial opportunity for a worldwide coordinated initiative to effectively resolve the ongoing plastic pollution crisis at all stages of the life span of plastics. As we come together as a community of divers and Ocean Torchbearers™ to close the tap on plastics, let’s explore the root of the issue. 

Are you diving with too much weight? Many divers are.

What makes someone an experienced diver? The number of logged dives they have? The number of certifications? How many years have they been diving?